STEVENS POINT - Tara Manzke said the idea for Bria Bella & Co was in her head. Working with Mary Wescott made it a reality.

After spending a decade in corporate sales, Manzke decided to start her own women's clothing business last fall. Today her business, which offers a variety of women’s clothing, handbags, and accessories, boasts a full website and in May opened a storefront at 925 Main Street in downtown Stevens Point.

That’s when her husband Rob suggested the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Small Business Development Center. With the help of Wescott, the center’s director, Manzke said she was able to navigate the process of starting her business.

“We wouldn’t be where we are without her,” Manzke said of Wescott. “What I love about her is that she is 150 percent invested in you and is always available. I can still call her today and talk if I have a question.”

The center is part of a network of organizations available in Portage County who offer services designed to help entrepreneurs like Manzke get their businesses off the ground or expand, and also help them find the kind of employees they are looking for.

Making business assistance fashionable

The SBDC at UW-Stevens Point offers no cost, confidential advising and resources as well as fee-based workshops and conferences to both startups and existing businesses throughout Adams, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Oneida, Portage, Vilas, Waupaca and Wood counties.

Companies working with Wisconsin SBDC consultants at 12 locations across the state in 2016 obtained almost $76 million in loans and investments and created or retained 890 jobs. In the same year, 238 businesses were started and 2,567 clients received consulting. The organization's efforts are working to counter a trend in Wisconsin that saw it finish dead last among all states in 2016 for startup activity, as measured by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, one of the country’s leading entrepreneurship advocacy and research organizations. It was the third straight year the state finished last.

Wescott, who has worked at the local center for over 20 years, said the majority of entrepreneurs she works with typically have 15 employees or less. Individuals can receive help with business and marketing planning, putting together a multi-year financial plan with projected income and expenses, and workshops on training on a variety of topics.

Manzke said Wescott was able to help her website off the ground by connecting with computer students at UW-Stevens Point, and also helped make sure the storefront was a good fit for the business financially.

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Bria Bella & Co opened in May 2017 at 925 Main Street in downtown Stevens Point.(Photo: Nathan Vine/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)

“She helped put the pieces together,” Manzke said. “She’s great at listening about what you want to do, and reassuring you that if things change a bunch of times that it’s going to be OK. When you’re going through the process you can be pulled in a million directions, and to have someone with that experience be able to give you advice and tell you to take a deep breath is wonderful. She kind of became part of the family.”

In search of funds, training and employees

Laura West, vice president of business development for CAP Services, said the private nonprofit organization offers both technical and financial assistance to businesses across several counties including Portage. Since 1998, CAP Services has assisted in the expansion of 286 business and the creation of 560 living wage jobs.

West said CAP Services, a U.S. Small Business Administration microlender, typically provides loans to about 30 business a year.

“A lot of the time is about $10,000 to $20,000, but we also do those smaller shoestring budgets,” West said. “If there’s a large amount that’s needed we usually play a secondary role with another lender.”

West said that one of the major trends CAP is seeing are entrepreneurs looking to buy existing businesses, and that the organization is equipped to assist with the different facets of that process.

“You have baby boomers who are looking to sell if they are not passing (the business) down to a family member,” West said. “On one side you have the owner who may need help with that kind of succession planning, and then you have the younger person who wants to buy but may need help with financing. We are able to come into that situation and help out on both sides of the table.”

While CAP and the Small Business Center are tackling assistance for businesses, Todd Kuckkahn and the Portage County Business Council are putting emphasis on helping those businesses have the kind of workforce they need.

In February, the PCBC announced a new partnership with Ignite Leadership Network, an organization for young professionals in Portage County, focused on talent attraction and retention in the area.

“We’re fortunate to have a lot of companies who have a need for employees, and it’s important that we show people beyond that we also have a great community for people to enjoy when they’re not at work,” said Kuckkahn, executive director of the PCBC.

Ready for the next step

After a frantic few weeks to get the storefront up and running, Bria Bella & Co is bright and inviting, with full racks of merchandise that is beginning to transition into the fall season. Manzke said business has had a good start, and she's worked to raise its profile.

On July 22, the business hosted Style On Main: Runway Fashion Show as part of the Discover Downtown event in downtown Stevens Point. The show featured new items in the Bria Bella collection will be featured by local area women on an elevated runway, and Manzke said she's looking forward to organizing another.

She's also connected with owners of other stores, Quyen Hom of Assembly and Margaret O’Connor Govett of Girls in Pearls, who along with Manzke are making the downtown a destination for women's retail.

"I'm happy with how we've started, but I'm still looking forward to what we can do next," Manzke said.